Bathing cap



Sept. 21, 1965 B. MELNIKOFF 3,206,761

BATHING CAP Filed March 8, 1963 Figure 2 United States Patent 'Ofiice 3,206,761 Patented Sept. 21, 1965 3,206,761 BATHING CAP Beatrice Melnikolf, 180 East End Ave., New York, NY. Filed Mar. 8, 1963, Ser. No. 263,913 2 Claims. (Cl. 2--68) This invention relates to a new and improved bathing cap. More specifically, this invention is concerned with a cap for protecting the hair from water Without irreparably disturbing the coiffure.

Women historically have faced the problem of keeping their hairdo dry while engaged in swimming and other water sports. The bulk of commercial bathing caps designed to solve this problem are made of an expansible material, such as rubber, which is stretched over and fit tightly about the hair. These caps, however, have a serious drawback in that the hair style is flattened and crushed. This is particularly true in the 'case of elaborate hair styles which, once disheveled, can be recombed successfully only by a skilled person at significant expense. As a result of the deficiencies of the bathing caps of the prior art many women have been forced to decide whether they would rather go into the water or look their best.

In accordance with this invention a bathing cap is proposed which will serve not only to keep the hair dry, but do so without disturbing the coitf'ure.

Briefly, the bathing cap of the instant invention is basically a flexible sheet so constructed that it may be initially draped loosely upon the head of the wearer. While resting lightly on the coitfure, the periphery of the cap is drawn tightly about the hairline by means such as a headband, thereby sealng the cap and preventing water from coming in contact with the hair. Finally, the fiexible sheet is gathered by any convenient means so that it fits snugly about the coiffure. This gathering means is an essential part of the bathing cap of the invention, since without it the cap would droop about the head, being of great annoyance to the wearer, interfering with her swimming, and being unsightly in appearance.

To illustrate more fully the invention attention is directed to the attached figures.

FIGURE 1 is illustrative of the bathing cap in its open position, ready to be placed upon the head of the wearer.

FIGURE 2 shows the closed position of the cap, as it would be used by the wearer.

The flexible sheet which comprises the main body of the cap is illustrated by the numeral 1. In FIGURE 1 the headband 2 and the gathering means 3, are depicted in the open position. In this position the opening 4 and the volume contained by the cap is enlarged, thereby permitting the cap to be placed on the head, over the hairdo, without difliculty. The enlargement of the opening is facilitated by gusset 6. Once the bathing cap is draped upon the head and headband 2 is drawn tightly about the hairline and secured in place by the snaps 5. The gusset 6 is folded under the cap. By so employing the headband 2, a water tight seal is formed between the periphery of the flexible sheet 1 and the head. Thereafter, by drawing the gathering means 3, the flexible sheet is drawn closely and evenly about the coiffure, as illustrated in FIGURE 2. The gathering means 3 is made up of a series of loops 7 and a tie means or string 8.

As used herein, the term flexible sheet refers to the main body of the bathing cap. The sheet is preferably contoured generally in a configuration resembling the surface of a hemisphere, a hemispheroid or other dome shape. Contouring may be brought about by any means known in the art. For example, the sheet may be molded, stretched, gathered, or patterned and joined into the appropriate contour. The flexible sheet may be split from the crown of the bathing cap to the periphery of the lower or open edge to widen the opening. In such a case, a gusset, inset, or tongue is used to prevent water from passing through the slit and coming into contact with the hair of the wearer. The gusset is joined to the side edges of the split as is shown in FIGURE 1. Such a gusset is not essential. The flexible sheet maybe folded to form tucks upon closing the headband.

The hemispherical shape of the flexible sheet may be either permanent or temporary, i.e., it may be formed in such shape or merely drawn into the appropriate shape prior to use.

A large variety of materials may be used for the fabrication of the flexible sheet. It is essential only that it be impermeable to water. Sheet plastics, such as polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride, and acetate, or rubbers are preferred. Fabrics which have been rubberized, or otherwise rendered waterproof, are also suitable. If desired, decorative fabric, laminated or lined with a waterproof material, may be employed.

In the above illustration the headband or fastening means is shown as a band containing snaps. Of course, other means may be employed. For example, buttons or nylon tape fasteners, known commercially as Vel cm, can be used to maintain the periphery of the sheet securely about the head to prevent the seepage of water, It can readily be seen that a separate band is unnecessary, the periphery of the flexible sheet may serve as the headband. If desired, elastic or other stretchable material may be incorporated to assist in holding the bathing cap firmly in place.

The gathering means described herein, serves to adjust and confine the volume defined by the flexible sheet thereby making the bathing cap of an appropriate size for most any type of hairdo. As stated previously this avoids unwieldly bulkiness which would interfere with the swimmer and detract from the trim appearance of the cap. Confining the volume of the flexible sheet is accomplished by gathering, pleating, folding, etc. Buttons, snaps, zippers, and hooks and eyes may be used for this purpose. Particularly preferred are strings passing through eyelets or loops on the flexible sheet which, when drawn, form pleats in the flexible sheet. Most desirably, the gathering means must be adjustable so as to confine the volume of the bathing cap the proper amount. The amount of adjustment naturally depends upon the particular coiffure, its sensitivity to the pressure of the cap, and the comfort of the wearer. Of course, once the gathering means is adjusted for a particular coiflure, it need not be further adjusted. The cap may be removed and reused by opening and closing the headband alone.

In a particular embodiment of the instant invention, the gathering means is such that it cooperates with the headband in enlarging the periphery of the cap when in the open position. This feature further facilitates draping of the open bathing cap over the coiffure of the wearer and eliminates any necessity of forcing the cap thereover.

While the main elements of the invention are defined above, it is clear that certain additions and modifications can be used within the scope of the instant invention. For example, flowers and other decorative effects may be used advantageously to enhance the aesthetic nature of the cap.

Of course, while the instance invention is specifically described as a bathing cap, it may also be used as a shower cap or a rain hat.

I claim:

1. A new and improved bathing cap which comprises: (1) a flexible substantially hemispherical head covering portion terminating in a circumferential band portion adapted to fit loosely over the coifiure of a wearer; (2) a gathering means adapted to alter the volume defined by said head covering portion, said gathering means comprising a series of loop means extending from the band portion upwardly along the head covering portion and adjustable tie means extending therethrough adapted to draw said head covering portion snugly and evenly about the coifiure of the wearer; and (3) a fastening means positioned adjacent to said band portion for releasably opening and closing said band portion about the hairline of the wearer.

2. The bathing cap of claim 1 wherein said head covering portion is provided with a gusset.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,456,524 5/23 Waldron 2-6 2,431,809 12/47 Koret 2106 2,465,998 4/49 Bowditch 268 2,497,892 2/50 Klar 268 2,985,884 5/61 Winston 2-106 3,019,444 2/62 Pollack 268 FOREIGN PATENTS 792,832 10/35 France. 710,269 9/41 Germany.

JORDAN FRANKLIN, Primary Examiner.

DAVID J. WILLIAMOWSKY, Examiner. 

1. A NEW AND IMPROVED BATHING CAP WHICH COMPRISES: (1) A FLEXIBLE SUBSTANTIALLY HEMISPHERICAL HEAD COVERING PORTION TERMINATING IN A CIRCUMFERENTIAL BAND PORTION ADAPTED TO FIT LOOSELY OVER THE COIFFURE OF A WEARER; (2) A GATHER MEANS ADAPTED TO ALTER THE VOLUME DEFINED BY SAID HEAD COVERING PORTION, SAID GATHER MEANS COMPRISING A SERIES OF LOOP MEANS EXTENDING FROM THE BAND PORTION UPWARDLY ALONG THE HEAD COVERING PORTION AND ADJUSTABLE TIE MEANS EXTENDING THERETHROUGH ADAPTED TO DRAW SAID HEAD COVERING PORTION SNUGLY AND EVENLY ABOUT THE COIFFURE OF THE WEARER; AND (3) A FASTENING MEANS POSITIONED ADJACENT TO SAID BAND PORTION FOR RELEASABLY OPENING AND CLOSING SAID BAND PORTION ABOUT THE HAIRLINE OF THE WEARER. 